Defending champion Eisbären Berlin got off to a perfect start in the new season of the German Ice Hockey League with a clear victory in Cologne. Straubing also celebrated a landslide victory.
Berlin won 6-2 (1-0, 3-1, 2-1) against the ambitious Kölner Haie on Friday (September 20, 2024). The record champions are also considered the big favorites for the championship in the 31st DEL season.
New signings Gabriel Fontaine and Liam Kirk each scored twice for the visitors. National striker Frederik Tiffels (36th) and Erik Hördler (37th) were responsible for the other Berlin goals.
Straubing shoots down Düsseldorf
The Straubing Tigers are the first to lead the table. Last season’s playoff semi-finalists beat Düsseldorfer EG 7:2 (5:1, 2:0, 0:1). Joshua Samanski scored two goals against the desolate Rhinelanders.
Co-favorite EHC Red Bull Munich won a strange match against the Iserlohn Roosters with 7:5 (3:0, 0:3, 4:2). The team of former national coach Toni Söderholm squandered a 3:0 and a 4:3 lead in the Sauerland. After 51 minutes, the Munich team were even 4:5 behind. Then the Söderholm team turned the match around again with two goals within 28 seconds. Chris DeSousa scored the final score of 7:5 (60th).
National player Michaelis scores on DEL debut
Thanks to a good second period, the Adler Mannheim managed a narrow 4:3 (1:1, 3:0, 0:2) win against the Schwenninger Wild Wings. Within 48 seconds, the Mannheim team turned a 1:1 into a 3:1. Top newcomer Marc Michaelis increased the lead to 4:1 with his first DEL goal (29th). The Wild Wings’ comeback with two goals in the final phase (56th, 60th) came too late.
With new coach Alexander Sulzer, runner-up Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven defeated the Grizzlys Wolfsburg. In the northern duel, the seaside town team deservedly won 4:1 (1:0, 1:1, 2:0). Sulzer came in the summer to replace Thomas Popiesch, who had left the northern Germans for Krefeld after eight years.
The Löwen Frankfurt started against the Nürnberg Ice Tigers with a 3:2 (1:0, 1:1, 1:1).
Augsburg wins the opening game
The Augsburger Panther, who were almost relegated, had already started the new season of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) with a win on Thursday. The team that was bottom of the table for the past two seasons defeated ERC Ingolstadt 3:2 (1:0, 0:0, 1:2, 1:0) after overtime.
After a long stalemate, the Swabians were only spared from relegation because the respective second division champions had not applied for admission to the DEL.
Kunyk makes the decision
New signing Cody Kunyk scored the early lead for the hosts in front of 6,179 spectators at the Curt Frenzel Stadium (7th minute). After that, the guests dominated the game, but were repeatedly thwarted by the strong new goalkeeper Strauss Mann. It was only eight minutes before the end that Alex Breton equalized, but just twelve seconds later Riley Damiani scored to make it 2-1 for Augsburg. Philipp Krauß forced extra time (56th minute), and Kunyk made the decision with his second goal (63rd minute).
